My dear friend Alison has spent the last months preparing her heart, her family and her home to adopt a beautiful little girl diagnosed with Spina Bifida in an adoption story that God perfectly orchestrated.
They spent the past week welcoming Seraphia Caritas and being by her side through surgery, recovery. They brought her home, introduced her to the boys.
And then, the birth mother changed her mind.
My heart is breaking for them.
Please keep the O family in your prayers.
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Our Week in Pics
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| The Backyard Setup |
All in all it went well. My biggest complaint is having a non walker (note her PNP prison). She loves to roam free on hands and knees but will have to suffer confinement while camping. Complaint #2, Augie does not settle well to sleep and the tent was no exception. He was bouncing off the canvas walls until about 11pm. But, we have done our dry run and are looking forward to camping for real soon.
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| Cooking over the fire pit |
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| Happy Girl (for these 5 seconds at least) |
And just for kicks. Here is a picture of Rosie playing at the same place when she was >2.
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| Our little treasures that help us grow holier by the minute. |
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| Boys are gross! |
Thursday, June 14, 2012
craving simplicity
Reading the post of a dear friend inspired my mind towards simplicity. How I long for simplicity!
My friend attended a personal silent retreat. That has been my dream for YEARS. If I could work it in to my life every year, it would be bliss.
I am sitting at my downstairs computer. Stuff piled everywhere. I walk into the area that used to be our garage. I can not walk without having to step over or around something - ever. In the laundry room I duck around piles of drywall, school desks and chairs that need to be refinished. Upstairs...toys, laundry, books, stuff, stuff, stuff. Out of size or out of season clothes that need to find a home. Bags of clothes for good will. I try to fight the stuff and the stuff fights back harder.
I live with a carpenter - who is really a full time retail associate and part time student with little time for home projects. That little time he has at home he wants to spend with kids or needs to spend on school. Renovations no longer hold the same appeal. Our fixer upper has not been fixed as fast as I would like. I am destined to live in construction for years.
I am so truly blessed to have a house full of love and children. I am so truly blessed that our needs are met and we have clothes and shoes and socks and clothes and shoes and socks (i meant to do that). I feel like I need a hoarder intervention. I am not a hoarder. I just need that organizing crew.
Does simplicity start in the mind or in the home?
This summer we are adding a 6 year old to our family. No, not a foster child...a friend we are watching for the summer. It has been a blessing! Our routine has been strengthened and now I am accountable. I can't just pound around yelling at my children. "M" does not have siblings and I think she enjoys our chaos. It is also helping to simplify. We are finding a bit of order. Time for projects. Time for snacks. Time for the pool. This is the first time our summer has felt like a summer. And...if you knew what my week has been like - you would know this is a pretty miraculous thing!
My friend attended a personal silent retreat. That has been my dream for YEARS. If I could work it in to my life every year, it would be bliss.
I am sitting at my downstairs computer. Stuff piled everywhere. I walk into the area that used to be our garage. I can not walk without having to step over or around something - ever. In the laundry room I duck around piles of drywall, school desks and chairs that need to be refinished. Upstairs...toys, laundry, books, stuff, stuff, stuff. Out of size or out of season clothes that need to find a home. Bags of clothes for good will. I try to fight the stuff and the stuff fights back harder.
I live with a carpenter - who is really a full time retail associate and part time student with little time for home projects. That little time he has at home he wants to spend with kids or needs to spend on school. Renovations no longer hold the same appeal. Our fixer upper has not been fixed as fast as I would like. I am destined to live in construction for years.
I am so truly blessed to have a house full of love and children. I am so truly blessed that our needs are met and we have clothes and shoes and socks and clothes and shoes and socks (i meant to do that). I feel like I need a hoarder intervention. I am not a hoarder. I just need that organizing crew.
Does simplicity start in the mind or in the home?
This summer we are adding a 6 year old to our family. No, not a foster child...a friend we are watching for the summer. It has been a blessing! Our routine has been strengthened and now I am accountable. I can't just pound around yelling at my children. "M" does not have siblings and I think she enjoys our chaos. It is also helping to simplify. We are finding a bit of order. Time for projects. Time for snacks. Time for the pool. This is the first time our summer has felt like a summer. And...if you knew what my week has been like - you would know this is a pretty miraculous thing!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Another Amazing Adoption Story (song)
This one is close to my heart! Friends from way back have been trying to adopt from Haiti since shortly after the disaster. This is a video of Michelle and Chris, who are trying to adopt David and Olguin (shown in the video). What a great song and sweet video!! I am adding this one to my song page!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Adventures in NYC
(Disclaimer: Okay...after trying for hours...I cannot figure out how to work my text and pictures together properly. You will have to guess which text goes with which picture! I will try harder next time!)
Friday night we arrived in the Bronx to stay with Edmund and Gabie. We met PG for the first time (he is 5 days younger than Hannah). They showed us they are both hitting similar milestones in attempting forward mobility.
Friday night we arrived in the Bronx to stay with Edmund and Gabie. We met PG for the first time (he is 5 days younger than Hannah). They showed us they are both hitting similar milestones in attempting forward mobility.
The next morning we got up early to go see the Pope. We had street tickets for his arrival and Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral. We ran up and down many many streets trying to find out how to get to the security check point. Unfortunately, due to misdirections from several police officers, and a long wait in several lines...we did not make it into the plaza. So, we watched the jumbotron for a few minutes (and were interviewed by a newsman from Chicago and another from Czechoslovakia).
Since we couldn't see too well, we took up an invitation from Gabie's previous employer, and hiked up 20 blocks to the World Youth Alliance offices on the upper East side. They downloaded the live feed from EWTN and put it up with the projector, where we watched part of the Mass.
Fearing we would miss the next opportunity to see Pope Benedict, we grabbed lunch to go and hiked a couple blocks back to 5th Ave to await the procession. 
AND....HERE IS A CLIP OF THE POPE DRIVING BY!
Since others may have missed it. :)Monday, October 09, 2006
The Events of last Friday....
Friday night we thought we were going to Fr. Keith's church to surprise their cousin for his 30th birthday party. When we went to meet him in the chapel, they opened the doors and the chapel was FILLED with our bible study friends (around 30 people). I 
almost had a heart attack!! I was ushered to the front of the room as all was quickly prepared for Mass. Fr. Keith led a Mass to start our time of waiting with prayers and lift us up with hope. The gospel read was of Mary's fiat and visit to Elizabeth who conceived in her old age. The homily was lovingly directed to us and I cried the WHOLE time. Thank goodness someone had a tissue, because I was not prepared for this!
After the Mass everyone migrated to the church hall which was beautifully decorated, a full spread of yummy food all prepared by Becky. As we walked in she was selling raffle tickets and people started to play shower games. The first was a quiz about us. Where were we born, what was our adoption agency, what was the name of our dog, etc. Some of the answers were quite creative.
Another game was the baby word unscramble. As this particular group of friends is very "fruitful" and are quite current on their baby shower games, I think Aleeca unscrambled all 10+ words in less than a minute.
These pictures were cutting the cake and giving out the raffle prizes (while holding our goddaughter, M):
Other local family friend's showed up and through out the night we got to update our friends and recieve congratulations. During the car ride home I had the opportunity to hear Paul's reflections. In additon to what I posted previously, he said "I feel like I am on the other side of the fence now and this feels like it is becoming more real." When we got home we took time to open the gifts and cards. Once again, overwhelming. We were grateful for the opportunity to opt out from doing this at the party. But, from all the resulting generosity, we now have a stroller, car seat, pack and play, BRU gift cards and HALF of our adoption fund raised!!!!!!! I agree with Paul, looking at the baby gear makes it seem more real. Now, all we need is a little bum to fill that seat!
Again, we just feel so incredibly blessed. Another god-incidence part of this whole thing was that last week was the week for our homestudy report to be written up & approval granted. So, officially, literally, we are started our wait time surrounded by friends and family lifting us up in prayer at the Lord's table. I am confident this prayer is helping us prepare and surrounding us with grace needed. We don't know how long the wait will be, we don't know what little soul God has to bless us with...but we are so grateful that we can relax in being more prepared for whatever surprises lie ahead.
almost had a heart attack!! I was ushered to the front of the room as all was quickly prepared for Mass. Fr. Keith led a Mass to start our time of waiting with prayers and lift us up with hope. The gospel read was of Mary's fiat and visit to Elizabeth who conceived in her old age. The homily was lovingly directed to us and I cried the WHOLE time. Thank goodness someone had a tissue, because I was not prepared for this!
After the Mass everyone migrated to the church hall which was beautifully decorated, a full spread of yummy food all prepared by Becky. As we walked in she was selling raffle tickets and people started to play shower games. The first was a quiz about us. Where were we born, what was our adoption agency, what was the name of our dog, etc. Some of the answers were quite creative.
Another game was the baby word unscramble. As this particular group of friends is very "fruitful" and are quite current on their baby shower games, I think Aleeca unscrambled all 10+ words in less than a minute.
These pictures were cutting the cake and giving out the raffle prizes (while holding our goddaughter, M):
Other local family friend's showed up and through out the night we got to update our friends and recieve congratulations. During the car ride home I had the opportunity to hear Paul's reflections. In additon to what I posted previously, he said "I feel like I am on the other side of the fence now and this feels like it is becoming more real." When we got home we took time to open the gifts and cards. Once again, overwhelming. We were grateful for the opportunity to opt out from doing this at the party. But, from all the resulting generosity, we now have a stroller, car seat, pack and play, BRU gift cards and HALF of our adoption fund raised!!!!!!! I agree with Paul, looking at the baby gear makes it seem more real. Now, all we need is a little bum to fill that seat!
Again, we just feel so incredibly blessed. Another god-incidence part of this whole thing was that last week was the week for our homestudy report to be written up & approval granted. So, officially, literally, we are started our wait time surrounded by friends and family lifting us up in prayer at the Lord's table. I am confident this prayer is helping us prepare and surrounding us with grace needed. We don't know how long the wait will be, we don't know what little soul God has to bless us with...but we are so grateful that we can relax in being more prepared for whatever surprises lie ahead.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
"God has given YOU to us!"
It is 2:30am the morning of October 7th. I have jotted down our thoughts and hope to post the full report soon (with pictures - Becky, can you email me a few :) . As some of you may check the blog later, I wanted to write something.
We are just about speechless. Certainly we are overwhelmed at the outpouring of love, support and generosity. As Paul said "when we began the process, we entrusted everything over to God...and now God has given us You (becky, steve, keith, all our family and all our friends) to pray for us and give us strength in this journey."
Thank you. Everyone, thank you.
We love you and are so grateful for your friendship and love.
(((Keith, Becky and Steve. we are speechless. we love you. we are so thankful God has given us you!)))
We are just about speechless. Certainly we are overwhelmed at the outpouring of love, support and generosity. As Paul said "when we began the process, we entrusted everything over to God...and now God has given us You (becky, steve, keith, all our family and all our friends) to pray for us and give us strength in this journey."
Thank you. Everyone, thank you.
We love you and are so grateful for your friendship and love.
(((Keith, Becky and Steve. we are speechless. we love you. we are so thankful God has given us you!)))
Saturday, August 19, 2006
I have found the "in"
Suddenly it as not as uncomfortable being the only woman without a baby in my crowd of friends. Well...It is still uncomfortable, but humorously when conversation turns to breastfeeding, I am participating. I was with the moms at the pool today (while our husbands are away together on a "men's camping weekend") and a Le Leche League instructor joined our group. One of the girls nudged me and I asked her about adoptive breast feeding. Before I knew it the words "nipples" and "breast pump" were flying around my head. I laughed and listened as 6 women spouted suggestions and encouragements. Paul and I have been discussing the idea of adoptive breast feeding and doing a little internet research. The idea of being able to bond with a baby & potentially lactate to provide for some of his or her nutritional needs is intriguing and exciting. Should I overwhelm everyone here and say that we are also thinking about cloth diapering?
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